E3 2011: Sound Shapes Might Be the Best NGP Launch Title

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The music is the game.

By Hilary Goldstein

The PlayStation NGP has a pretty strong launch lineup, including one very big surprise: Sound Shapes. The puzzle/platformer comes from Queasy Games -- creators of Everyday Shooter -- and is like Lumines meets N+. Sound Shapes is inventive, addictive, and clever. And it impressed me more than Uncharted: Golden Abyss on NGP.

Exit Theatre Mode

You control what I'd describe as a wheel with suction cups. It rolls up and down walls and ceilings and can jump without concerns for gravity. If you're hanging on the bottom side of a platform and hit the jump button (the only button you'll use), you don't leap to the ground. Instead, you hop a gap and attach to the bottom of the next platform... if there is one. Once I got the hang of the gravity-defying platforming, I was hooked.

Sound Shapes isn't easy. There are roaming enemies, dangerous terrain, and deadly lasers. Plus, collectibles that are often risky to reach. Part of what makes Sound Shapes special is that every action is tied to musical notes. Rolling along the ground plays notes specific to that screen, lasers create a rhythm, etc. You play out Sound Shapes like any platformer, but each move contributes to a song.

Don't let its looks fool you -- Sound Shapes is awesome.

Each level is a new musical experience, which can flow beautifully if you move quickly and find the proper rhythm. Of course, the song can be cut short by becoming cautious of a roving enemy. Doing well isn't just about racking up a score, but about piecing together a melody.

More than 30 levels are included with Sound Shapes, but there could be thousands more to follow. Sound Shapes includes an easy-to-use music and level creator. Utilizing the NGP's touch screen, it's simple to tap and switch instruments, select notes to play, and lay out an audio track. I suck at creating stuff in games, but even I was able to build a mix of harp and guitar and place it inside a level. Yep, you not only make tracks, but tie the music into any level you build. You create whatever crazy challenges you want for others to attempt and determine how and when every note plays.

Unfortunately, screenshots and even video can't do Sound Shapes justice. It's that rare blending of game and experience. Sound Shapes is as much about discovering a tune as it is about traversing a level. To understand why it's so cool, you have to play it. But it will be the talk of Sony's E3 NGP showcase. It's the first NGP game that's made me feel like I might have to invest in the system when it hits stores.